Archives for June 2016

The John Davis Roses

One of the many benefits of planting summer containers for a client that has had a landscape and garden designed and installed by us is the chance to see how that landscape is growing on. This client is 45 minutes away, so my visits are not all that often. I will drive out whenever there is a problem that needs some attention. But this yearly visit is never about trouble. It is about adding some seasonal plants to a garden that is the apple of its owner’s eye. She not only looks after it, she truly enjoys every bit of it. Planting her containers in June is a pleasure. The soil is warm, and the plants that have spent the early weeks of the summer protected from unpredictable weather in a greenhouse look great, and will handle the transplanting without issue. Though we planted 21 containers today, the big news of the day were the John Davis roses.

John Davis is one of the Canadian Explorer Series of extremely hardy and disease resistant roses developed by Agriculture Canada in the 1960’s. The goal was to hybridize garden roses that would not only withstand cold northern winters, but would perform beautifully in spite of it. John Davis is hardy in zone 3-think of that. There are quite a few roses in the series, all of which are good garden plants in my zone, meaning they are tough plants that shrug off the fungal diseases roses are famous for. They bloom as if there were no tomorrow. John Davis is a great choice for a not too tall climber that has the look of an old fashioned rose more often seen in England or California.

This is the 4th June for the John Davis climbing roses planted on each post of a pair of long pergolas that frame the view from the back of the house to the lake. Each was planted with a companion clematis, which range in color from white to dark purple. The clematis do not seem to mind the competition from these vigorous roses. Though John Davis usually tops out at about 7 feet, these roses are up 9.5 feet off the ground, and have started to grow over the roof of the pergola. I will be interested to see if they keep adding more height. I have planted John Davis in a number of gardens, almost all with great success. This group has seemed happy from the moment they were planted. The soil is heavy clay, and does not give its moisture up easily. There is a constant breeze from the lake, which I suspect has something to do with the fact that I never see mildew or black spot on the plants. They get a yearly dose of rose tone, and extra water when they need it. All that remains is to stand back in June, and take in the bloom.

The lax canes have had some support to attach them to the pergola poles, but that is not visible. The flowers are not particularly large, but there are thousands of them on each one of these plants. I am surprised that this series of roses is not more readily available in my area. The roses we have available at Detroit Garden Works, including John Davis, had to be custom grown. I made arrangements for that almost a year ago.

I understand the reluctance to grow roses. They are ungainly plants that no one would have, but for the bloom and perfume. They routinely fail. I mitigate that tendency by planting the graft 2 to 3 inches below ground. No gardener wants diseased plants in their garden. Choosing roses with a clear track record of resistance to disease and hardiness is educated buying. The Canadian Explorer roses might be worth a look. I find that they are reliable in every regard.

Roses in bloom like this is a garden experience like no other for a gardener who greatly values romance. Roses invoke romance like no other garden plant. I would go on to say that the big idea here is that any garden plant in the right place and endowed with the proper care will thrive. So much about the success of a garden depends on a thorough understanding of the horticultural requirements. I am rarely perfect in this regard. I have been known to short some greatly needed sun to sun loving perennials. I have placed my share of part sun perennials in shade that is too deep. I have exposed shade plants to blistering sun, in the hopes they will adjust. I have planted perennials that require perfect drainage in soggy soil, in hopes I could skate by. Suffice it to say that everything I have leaned about planting perennials has come from the plants. Any plant that is unhappy will speak back to me, if I am inclined to observe, and listen.

These John Davis roses in bloom are extraordinary. I can only claim that I somehow managed to put the right plant in the right place, in the beginning. What had happened over the past 4 years is a constellation of events attended by nature, and looked after by an extraordinary client. This does not happen so often. Thanks, Harriet.

The day planting containers here was a moment I shall not soon forget.

June garden

Venus dogwoods in bloom

John Davis

The greater garden is just as beautiful.

oxeye daisies and amsonia “Blue Ice”

looking towards the lake

A June garden-what could be better?

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Posted on: June 14, 2016 33 Comments

Filed Under: Deborah Silver and Co Inc, Summer, Good Design, Garden Design Tagged With: rose John Davis, June gardens, Canadian Explorer roses, Roses

Green And White

Green and white in a container garden can be spectacular. I have more than a few clients who request this cool and collected color palette. Summer in the mid west can be cruelly hot. A white garden always looks cool and crisp; white shrugs off the heat. White flowers read well from a distance, and are startlingly beautiful at dusk. When they are well grown, white flowers are stunning. Among my favorites? White hardy hibiscus, Visions in White astilbe, white anemones of any genus, white daffodils, white roses, need I go on? Green is what gives a garden or landscape a living context. Living green is vastly different than green paint. Light endows green and white in a garden with as much visual energy as serenity. Odd, that. This client has a decidedly contemporary point of view, and a big love of white. I try to give that white to her with both reliable and unusual plants. The diminutive white and purple streptocarpus, the big leaved white caladiums and the white streaked watermelon pepperomia set the stage for this very shady set of boxes.

Birds nest ferns and variegated licorice provide the supporting cast. The white New Guinea impatiens are the most astrikingly white of the group, and they are thriving here.So happy to see them tolerating such a low light level. This is the shadiest of my green and white containers for this client. I deliberately split up the white plants, to establish a lively rhythm.

The window boxes in front-I have no need to trick them out. A contemporary expression asks for simple. White New Guinea impatiens in all of the boxes-perfect. Once they have a little time, and some more heat, they will thrive.

The rosemary standards were part of the spring planting. There is no need to replace them. The are growing. I under planted them with scotch moss, just to give the trunks a little space. I have my fingers crosses that the water the moss wants will not be too much for the rosemary. Every container planting has its drama. The key will be thoughtful watering. The XXL dahlia series is the best medium height dahlias it has ever been my pleasure to grow. The stems are sturdy. They are disease resistant. They flower heavily early on. They are oh so showy. White petunias in the front-ordinary as can be. But paired with showy oregano, the relationship is a little more complicated and interesting. My crew fusses that I post pictures during a planting. They would rather I take pictures at the end, when everything is thoroughly watered and cleaned up. I like the pictures with the dirt. I cannot really explain this, but I learned from my Mom that good friable soil that is loaded with organic material and drains well is clean. The dirt inside my socks and under my nails this time of year is a comfort. It means all is right with my world.

Those dahlias laid out in a block awaiting planting are so incredibly beautiful. Showy white plants have their place in pots. An ordinary container cannot hold enough Queen Anne’s Lace to make a statement. Those airy blooming relatives of the common carrot belong in a field. Selecting white flowers for containers? Try white dwarf cosmos or cleome, white angelonia, white New Guinea impatiens, Lanai white trailing verbena. white geraniums-if you must. White zinnias, both dwarf and tall are great in containers. As a centerpiece, white mandevillea cannot be beat. Vinca vine-as ordinary as red geraniums. But skillfully used, it is a beautiful white accent in a container. We have on occasion wound it upwards on a plant climber.

This rosemary topiary did not ask for much fuss. A collar of white petunias is enough.

I planted a tall cylindrical pot in deep shade with one of my favorite green plants-pepperomia. Trailing down the sides, the garden variety vinca vine, and a white variegated tradescantia. Once this grows out and up, it will do justice to this gorgeous contemporary Atelier Verkant container.

The mix of classical and contemporary containers here is striking. A green and white planting is a great way to focus on the mix of container shapes and materials. In a month, the relationships the plants forge from one pot to the other will be much clearer.

This pot features a rosemary topiary surrounded by a giant collar of lavender. I am quite sure that given some time, each of these elements will grow in to each other in an interesting proportion. I do not mind the lavender in this green and white color scheme. A green and white rule is better when that rule is broken.

Should I ever plant a spike or a phormium in a container, Lucio ties up that cascading centerpiece, so he can plant all around it. This is a picture not so much about design, but about how my crew and I work together. All of them to the last have a gift for planting and growing plants. This is his signature, which I greatly respect.

Every plant has a face. That face needs to be forward. Every center plant needs to be perfectly placed in the middle. Every center plant needs to be oriented to the primary view. Some center plants need to be planted at the back of the container, depending on their placement. Some plants need to be pitched over the edges of a container. Others need to be planted vertically. This is not so much about color, texture or mass as it is about planting technique. My crew never rushes a planting. Watching them plant from a plan is the best part of my good life.

I am very pleased about this day’s work.

Green and white. Pure delight.

Posted on: June 11, 2016 23 Comments

Filed Under: Color, container planting Tagged With: white flowers, green and white plantings, summer container plantings

Early June

As much as I treasure the spring season, early June is a garden moment like no other. Every tree and shrub is in full leaf, and growing apace. Just about every perennial is not only growing, they are making plans to bloom. Even my hardy hibiscus show signs of stirring. The garden is action packed. The Princeton Gold maples against a a stormy sky last night-spectacular. Those trees dominate my landscape in June, as you can see. One would never know there are houses just past those trees. Just this year, the last of the electrical pole in the corner that services 3 other houses besides mine and its overhead wires have disappeared from view.

My landscape is not one bit fancy, although it is grown up. It is an urban American garden to my liking on a very small parcel of land. It is simple in design, so if it gets neglected when I am busy, order can be restored in a day or two. I like the orderly part of my landscape, as I find that order relaxing. The best part of coming home at the end of a busy day is having nothing to do in the garden.

What I will plant around the fountain this year is the subject of much internal debate. I can only ask Buck to talk to me about it so many times, and I have already gone over the limit. What is that plant that will like the sun at one end, and tolerate the shade at the other? It has to suffer the indignity of the dogs wading through it. And the over spray from the fountain jets on a windy day. I solved one chronic problem this spring. I had the irrigation system enlarged to include this area. No more dragging the hose down there from the deck on a 90 degree August day. I tried isotoma fluvialitis, but it was not hardy for me. I did get 3 years from both herniaria, and scotch moss.

I have yet to do one thing in this garden, and it doesn’t show – but for the dirt around the fountain. The month of June is the busiest of my year. This year is exceptionally busy. Several landscape projects are in process, in addition to the summer plantings. The fact that all I have to do when I get home is look around is a relief.

I have not planted my pots yet, but I have plenty enough going on to keep my eyes occupied. I will try to have them planted by June 15. Annual and tropical plants going into soil that is thoroughly warmed up will take hold and grow with little in the way of transplant shock. To follow are more pictures of my early June garden, without much commentary. I need to go attend to someone else’s garden right now.

The Palibin lilacs are beautiful this year. I have a pair on standard that have to be close to 30 years old.

Picea abies

maple leaves and boxwood

landscape in early June

The driveway pots are ready to plant. Do I know what I will plant? No. But deciding what to plant is more than half the fun of it.

the stairs to the kitchen door

Sum and Substance hosta under a parrotia.The pots in front are ready to plant. I will get to the weeds in the gravel sometime soon.

I have a June landscape, not so much a garden garden. I like a vase of cut flowers in my garden in June as often as possible. I don’t want to miss out on anything.

Posted on: June 6, 2016 30 Comments

Filed Under: Color, Summer, Landscape Design, Upon Reflection Tagged With: the June garden

Some Like It Hot And Dry

Choosing plants for summer containers can be complicated, especially if you are as serious about them as I am. I have to be serious, as I plant them professionally for a wide range of clients. But lacking any clients, I would still be serious about them. They are seasonal expressions of the landscape confined by a finite world known as a container. The idea of this enchants me. A great container planting is a condensed expression of color, mass, line, texture, mass, shape and mood. Like the best chocolate mousse you ever ate. The thoughtful landscape and garden builds and endures and reinvents itself from year to year. Like a great stew. Seasonal containers provide an opportunity to express an idea or point of view that needs no more commitment than one season. If this year’s annual containers do not satisfy, the next summer season is not so far away. Landscape design and installation can be a lengthy affair. The road to maturity is long, and not always easy. The death of a tree is momentous; a petunia lost is no cause for alarm. That container plantings last for one season is such a blessing. As much as I embrace the tough and long road designing and implementing a landscape, I value those gestures that are quick and true. I design containers by instinct. Every season, a plant that interests me, or a group of plants that seem like they will create a neighborhood gets my attention. But long before I shop, I scout the long range weather forecast for my zone.

A forecast for much above average temperatures, and dry conditions means I started paying special attention to those seasonal plants that will thrive in those conditions months ago. I have always been a fan of those old fashioned cutting flowers-the zinnias. If we have a rainy or very humid summer, they are a magnet for mildew and all manner of fungal disease. Reading the forecast in March, I started researching zinnias. A dry hot summer would be the perfect moment to plant lots of them in front of the shop. I was especially interested in unusual forms, vigor, resistance to disease, and and that old fashioned charm they are known for. In reading about zinnias, I came across a blog post from Floret Farms. They grow armload after armload of the most beautiful cut flowers I have ever seen-just like the cut zinnias you see in their picture above. I did take some of their recommendations to heart. Interested in the article? http://www.floretflowers.com/2014/03/flower-focus-growing-great-zinnias/

Zinnia Queen red lime has very unusual and muted coloration-unlike many of the varieties that feature intense color.

It’s sister cultivar, Queen Lime, is a much improved version of the old lime green zinnia “Envy”.

Benary Lime tends towards the greener side of lime. From the Johnny’s Selected seeds website: A classic and superior strain of zinnia originating from a historic German seed company, the Benary’s Giant Series features large, double blossoms of approximately 4–5″ in diameter, in multiple magnificent colors. Recommended by the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers for their vigor, uniformity, productivity, and carefree cultivation across a range of growing zones and conditions. From Swallowtail Garden Seeds: The 3-4 inch, double chartreuse flowers are superb for cutting, blend with almost any color. Outstanding massed in the landscape; the flowers are jaw-dropping in mixed bouquets. Plants are rain, heat, and mildew resistant. Somewhat shorter than others in this series, growing 24-26 inches tall.

I first read about this zinnia at Floret Farms. Uproar Rose is a hot pink zinnia that is reputed to produce flower heads at 5″-6″ across all summer. It makes an excellent cut flower, and is resistant to fungal diseases. Floret favors this zinnia, as it has lots of side branching – meaning it will bear lots of flowers. I added this zinnia to my collection.

The Zinderella series, in both peach and lilac represent a very unusual anemone type form. I see not every flower on the stalk is quite as double as the ones in my pictures, but that is not enough to discourage me from growing them. They grow about 24 inches tall. I mixed all of the sizes and colors of zinnias for a loose look, and I have twice as many lime zinnias as all of the other colors. That lime will make it so much easier to appreciate the color and shape of the other varieties.

Zinderella Lilac

A little splash of white is the perfect accent for a garden with lots of bright color. This is the tallest of my zinnias, topping out at 40″. Polar Bear white is an appropriate name. It cools off the collection.

Zinnia Canary Bird rounded out the tall zinnia group.

I did not want to neglect the shorter and more compact zinnias. I did opt to grow the Zahara series. From Park Seed: The Zahara series introduced in 2009 immediately became famous for its resistance to mildew and leaf spot, its nonstop blooms, and its larger flower size.These blooms are fully 2½ inches wide. Renowned for its ability to withstand heat, humidity, drought, and just about anything else, Zahara is the first bedding Zinnia that can truly claim to be disease-resistant. Mildew is a traditional enemy of the Zinnia, but Zahara’s got it licked!

Zahara Starlight White is especially beautiful.

The wicker pots out front are planted with elegant feather, tall yellow marigolds, marguerite daisies, pink petunias and lime licorice. We dug around the stone plinth, and planted Zahara zinnias.

a fist full of zinnias

Yes, I planted them on the roof too. We’ll see how we do with them.

Posted on: June 4, 2016 8 Comments

Filed Under: Detroit Garden Works, flowers, Color, container planting, Summer Tagged With: zinnias

Archives for June 2016

The John Davis Roses

Green And White

Early June

Some Like It Hot And Dry

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